Scottish gin boom revealed

The boom in Scottish gin has been revealed.

Published:11:30Wednesday 07 June 2017

A hugely popular Gin Map of Scotland has been updated for 2017 - with 25 new Scottish gins.

The stunning map, created by restaurant and hotel booking website 5pm.co.uk, launches in time for World Gin Day on June 10. An incredible 25 new Scottish gins have launched in the last year alone taking the total number of gins on the map to 53 – a visual representation of the Scottish gin boom.

The Scottish Gin Map

The colourful infographic (or ginfographic) includes the name of the gins, their location, all their botanicals and the garnish recommended by the distiller.

Notable new gins on the map include LoneWolf Gin, produced by craft beer giants BrewDog, two gins from Orkney, Kirkjuvagr and Johnsmas, Misty Isle Gin from Skye, Ginerosity, a social enterprise gin from Edinburgh, along with many more.

The gins reflect the creativity and resourcefulness of the Scottish craft gin market, many of which have beautifully designed bottles, locally foraged botanicals, and exotic garnishes, including kiwi fruit (Shetland Reel) and torn bay leaf (Bardowie Gin).

Scottish gin fans who would like to put the map up on their kitchen wall can download the map for free on 5pm.co.uk.

The days of Scottish gin being considered an artisan fad are over. Traditionally associated with being an English drink, 70 per cent of gin consumed in the UK is now made in Scotland.

This is due to the increase in small craft distilleries and the arrival of whisky companies into the gin market, although the 70 per cent figure can also largely be attributed to Diageo relocating production of Gordon’s and Tanquery to Fife in 1998 (both these brands are considered London gins).

Figures from HMRC show exports of the juniper-based spirit rose to record levels last year, increasing 12% to £474m, outperforming exports of British beef and soft drinks. The Wine and Spirit Trade Association predicts that 2017 exports will pass £500m within the year at the current “meteoric” growth rate.

UK gin sales hit £1.1bn last year, with the equivalent of 34m bottles sold last year, an increase of 12% on 2015.

The sales and export figures for last year confirmed the WSTA’s assessment in December that 2016 was a “year of gin”, and was unparalleled since the body began recording sales of alcoholic drinks.

Data from the research company Euromonitor predicts by 2020 gin sales will surpass whisky in the UK.